Shade Tree Wisdom 5/20/10

It is getting warmer now, so nature does what it always has been doing, and we forget that so often and complain about this “awful; heat” or “this humidity”. Hey, that’s been around much longer than we have, hasn’t it? But the Lord who provides the weather also gave us minds to work things out and so we invented air conditioning, and in Houston, tunnels for living during the summer. I forget how many miles of tunnels connect stores and shops underground, but there is a bunch. Why, there is even a business that gives you a tour of them. [Now there’s an item for the ‘things to do list’ next time you visit]

We just had elections in several places, and it is kind of amusing, and somewhat tiring, to hear the explanations, and what they portend. But they point up that sin is still alive and active in this world.

The Book of Romans is a short course on religion, why Jesus came, and why what He did is important, indeed, vital for our very eternal survival. In the first chapter after greetings, Paul sets forth his agenda when he writes, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes,: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith”. Romans 1, 16.17.

Then St. Paul speaks of the wrath of God. This wrath is revealed against sin, against men, “who hold the truth in unrighteousness”. And for this behavior, St. Paul says “they have no excuse” because they can clearly see God’s works in the nature that spreads all around them. But instead of accepting the clear evidences, they “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” V.21.

And that sets the tone of this letter. St. Paul speaks of this plight of man and then shows what God has done in Christ Jesus to give him a way out of his darkness.

The Book of Romans is not easy to read. It needs much prayer, much effort, and work, but the work of God is made plain in it. I can but urge a quiet reading again and again much prayer, and may the Lord give insight and understanding, for it leads to a stronger faith. May God bless this for you.

GPD 5/20/10